Apparatus for making yarn



Jan. 13, 1959 E. w. STARNES 2,867,967

APPARATUS FOR MAKING YARN Filed Nov. 20, 1956 4 s Sheets-Sheet 1 I INVENTOR.

.Ear/ W. .Sfarnes Jan. 13, 19 59 E. w. STARNES 2,867,967

APPARATUS FOR MAKING YARN Filed Nov. 20, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 0 INVENTOR.

Ea r/ W. Sl'arn'es Jan. 13, 1959 E. w. STARNES 2,357,967

APPARATUS FOR MAKING, YARN Filed Nov. 20, 1956 s Shets-Sheet a 6/ a 3&2 6/

INVENTOR. Earl h. .Shz rnes United States Patent APPARATUS FOR MAKING YARN Earl W. Starnes, Alexander City, Ala. Application November 20, 1956, Serial No. 623,440

Claims. (Cl. 57-36) This invention relates to apparatus for making yarn and relates particularly to apparatus of the character designated which shall utilize, in association with the actual attenuating apparatus, the twisting principle of the so-called two for one twisting apparatus.

An object of my invention is to provide apparatus for attenuating and twisting a strand which may be used to produce a yarn package of unlimited size.

Another object is to provide apparatus for drawing and spinning yarn in which the size of the balloon of the yarn coming from the flyer remains substantially constant, thereby attaining the important advantage of uniformity in the finished yarn through the elimination of the irregularities known to result in present practice from the change in the balloon of the yarn during the building of the package.

Another object is to provide yarn attenuating and spinning apparatus in which the ring and traveler are completely eliminated, thereby to provide apparatus in which the speed of twisting is substantially unlimited, in effect, the only limitation on the speed being the amount of centrifugal force that the ballooning yarn will stand.

Another object is to provide apparatus of the character designated in which finished yarn may be made either from silver directly from the card, or from roving which has been passed through one or more intermediate processes.

Another object is so to construct the entire apparatus that the fiber attenuating portion and the fiber twisting portion are compact and so relatively located that during the first one-half of the twist being applied to the yarn, the yarn passes directly from the attenuating rolls to the twisting mechanism, thereby eliminating considerable wear and tear on the yarn which takes place in the present day spinning frame.

Another object is to provide yarn making apparatus in which the drawing rolls are located wholly within the confines of the figure of revolution generated by the ballooning yarn.

A further object is to provide completely self-contained, individually powered fiber attenuating and twisting apparatus so constructed and arranged that its operation does not affect the operation of any additional similar ap paratus in the spinning room, whereby the stoppage of one such unit in the spinning room has no effect Whatever upon the remaining units.

Briefly, my invention contemplates apparatus in which there is employed, for the twisting part thereof, a substantially standard and heretofore known two for one twisting apparatus. The actual fiber attenuating or drawing roll part of my improved apparatus is mounted'relative to the flyer of the twister so that the drawing apparatus is wholly within the figure of revolution generated by the ballooning yarn. Thus, the strand to be drawn and spun is passed from a supply package directly to the first of the drawing rolls of the set. The strand then passes from the last of the drawing rolls directly to the rotating ice flyer, and from the flyer passes to a package builder on which the drawn and twisted yarn is wound. The winding mechanism may be located considerably above or otherwise axially spaced from the drawing and spinning ap-' paratus just mentioned, whereby the package may be of unlimited size. It will be apparent from what has just been said that my invention thus embodies the combination of fiber attenuating apparatus and twisting apparatus in which the drawn fiber passes from the drawing rolls to the flyer of the twisting apparatus and thence to a yarn package builder. The last roll of the attenuating apparatus thus serves as one holder for the strand while it is being twisted, whereas the package building apparatus serves as the other holder, the flyer operating on the strand between these two points.

Apparatus illustrating features of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of my improved apparatus showing the yarn as it stands out to form the balloon during the twisting process;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail fragmental view of the spinning and attenuating apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a plan view taken generally along line III-III of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3a is a detail sectional view taken along line IIlaIIIa of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view taken generally along line lVIV of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the draft gearing and roll arrangement taken generally along line V--V of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail fragmental view showing a form of tensioning means on the flyer; and,

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken generally along line VIIVII of Fig. 6.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of my invention I show in Fig. 1 a supporting framework 10 on which is mounted an electric motor or the like 11. The motor is operatively connected by a belt 12 to a pulley 13 fast on the end of a vertically disposed shaft 14. The shaft 14 is mounted in suitable bearings 16 on the suppport 1.0 and is provided with an axially extending passageway 17, the purpose of which will later appear.

Mounted on a thrust bearing 18 which fits on a shoulder 19 on the shaft is an outer tubular column 22. A second bearing 23 is provided whereby the shaft 14 is rotatable within the column 22. Carried by the column 22 is a support in the form of a can 24 for holding a plurality of supply packages 26 of the fiber strand S to be drawn and twisted. The can 24 preferably is largeenough to hold a plurality of the packages 26 whereby yarn may be formed from a plurality of such ends.

Mounted on the shaft 14 is a flyer disc 27. The disc 27 has a passage 28 therein in communication with the passage 17, thus forming a complete passageway for the yarn direct from the last roll of the attenuating apparatus, presently to be described. Mounted by means of screws 29 and 31 on the periphery of the disc 27 is a tensioning device 32 in the form of a piece of wire or the like having eyes through which the screws pass.

Mounted on supports 33 are magnets 34, either of the permanent or electrically excitable type. The tubular post 22 has a disc 36 of ferrous material on its lower end. In view of the fact that the flyer disc 27 is made of some material such as plastic which will not generate eddy currents, the magnetic attraction between the magnets 34 and the disc 36 holds the can and the column 22 against rotation. Therefore, from what has been described it will be apparent that the shaft 14 is free to rotate within the tubular column and that the column is held against rotation by the magnets.

At the top of the column is a support disc 39. Mounted on top of the support disc 39 is a drawing unit indicated generally by the letter D. This unit may comprise side plates 41 and 42 in which -:are :mounted a plurality of bottom rolls 43 and a plurality of cooperating top rolls 44. The bottom rolls are driven by means of the gearing shown, power being initially applied to the train by means of a gear 47 on top of the driven shaft 14. In mesh with gear 47. is a large gear 48 mounted on the lower end of a shaft 49 which is journalled in suitable manner in the supporting plate work for the drafting unit D. A Worm 51 mounted on the shaft 49 is in mesh with a gear 52 on a countershaft 53. Through the various gears shown the bottom rolls are driven at the correct drafting speeds. The drafting rates may be changed by changing the gears.

The top rolls '44 have their shafts 44a extending outwardly .of the side plates 41 and 42 and project through slots 54 therein. Bearing blocks 56 are slidably mounted in the slots 54 and are pressed against the shafts 44a by means of springs 57 which are adjustably compressed by means of set screws 58. Thus, the tension of the drafting rolls can be regulated simply by varying the position of the set screws 58.

While any suitable form of package building apparatus may be used with my improved spinning and drafting apparatus, I show one form of the same in Fig. 1. This apparatus may consist of a guide 59 through which the yarn passes from the flyer. The yarn may pass under a takeup roll 61 and thence through the guide 62 of a level winding nut 63 in turn mounted on a level winding screw 64. The roll 61 is driven at substantially the same surface speed as the last rolls 50 of the drafting unit D. The drive is indicated diagrammatically as being from a pulley 11a driven by motor 11 and a belt 11b to a pulley 61a on the shaft supporting roll 61. The package is mounted for the periphery of the yarn wound thereon frictionally to engage a driven shaft 66 to which power is supplied by gears 67, 68 and 69, the level winding screw 64 being driven by the gear train. It will be understood that the package is supported on a shaft mounted in slots 71 in supporting standards 72. The package thus can increase in size as the yarn is wound thereon in the manner well understood for such package building devices. It will also be noted that the guide 59 and roll 61 are located on a line which is substantially an extension of the path of movement of the strand through the drafting unit D.

From the foregoing the method of constructing and using my improved apparatus and the advantages thereof may now be explained and understood. With the packages 26 or a coil of silver in place in the can the strand S from one, some, or all of them may be led to the upper or back rolls of the drafting unit D. The strand passes downwardly through the successive series of drafting rolls where it is attenuated and thence passes from the last rolls 50 through the hollow shaft 14 out the opening 28 in the flyer disc 27 From this point the yarn passes to the guide 59 thence to the roller 61. With the fiyer rotating at high speed it will be apparent that the yarn is held between the last rolls 50 of the drafting unit D and the roll 61, whereby a twist is placed in the yarn. Furthermore, two twists will be placed in the yarn for each revolution of the fiyer as is understood. The ballooning yarn completely encloses the drafting apparatus D as well as the can 24. It will also be noted that the figure of revolution generated by the yarn ballooning out remains of constant configuration inasmuch as the package is being built by the apparatus shown. Thus, my improved apparatus utilizes the inherent advantages of a two for one twisting system in association with drafting apparatus, the latter being located within the figure of revolution generated by the ballooning yarn. This is accomplished in such manner that the last rolls of the drafting apparatus hold the yarn against twisting at one point whereas the package take up mechanism holds the yarn against twisting at the other point,

xii.

My improved apparatusis particularly characterized also by the fact that a minimum amount of power is required for the drafting. It will be apparent that in my apparatus there is no loss of power in friction as in conventional spinning frames wherein power is transmitted from one end through an entire series of rolls. Sufiicient weighting of the rolls 44 is afforded by the small springs 57. All of these features afford yarn making apparatus in which the entire system including the package building mechanism is an individual piece of equipment. It will be readily apparent that the addition of suitable stop moion mechanisms is quite feasible in my improved apparatus. Stoppage of one individual spinning apparatus thus does not affect, and is not affected by, the stoppage or continued operation of any one of a plurality of others located in a common spinning room.

In actual operation my invention has proved to be extremely satisfactory. I have spun yarn from sliver direct from the cards as well as from roving. My experience to date indicates that by reducing the diameter of the fiyer disc 27 I can spin very fine size yarn. Quality for quality the yarn made on my improved apparatus is just as good, if not better than yarn made on conventional frames. The possible speed of the fiyer in my improved apparatus appears to be limited o'nly by the strength of the yarn in withstanding the centrifugal. force imposed on it at the balloon. In practice I have operated a fiyer disc 12 inches in diameter at a rate of four thousand R. P. M. This is equivalent to approximately eight thousand R. P. M; of the spindle in conventional spinning.

t- /hile I have shown my invention in but one form it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications Without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In apparatus for producing packages of yarn, combined yarn twisting and attenuating apparatus comprising a non-rotatable holder for an untwisted strand package, fiber drawing means mounted adjacent the holder, 21 fiyer rotating in a circular path relative to the holder and said drawing means, means to feed the strand from the untwisted package thereof first through the drawing means and thence to the fiyer, and means to hold the strand against twisting located on the same side of the fiyer as the drawing apparatus and at such distance that the strand being twisted generates a figure of revolution larger in diameter than the overall dimensions of the holder.

2. In apparatus for attenuating and twisting a strand of fiber, an untwistcd strand supply package, attenuating apparatus to which the strand is delivered from the package, a rotating fiyer positioned to receive the drawn strand from the attenuating apparatus and through which the strand passes from the attenuating apparatus, and means holding the strand against twisting at a point removed from the fiyer on the attenuating apparatus side thereof, whereby the fiber generates a figure of revolution enclosing the attenuating apparatus.

3. The combination with a two for one fiber strand twisting apparatus of the kind in which the strand generates a ballooning figure of revolution during the twisting thereof, of strand attenuatingmeans located wholly within the figure of revolution of the strand.

4. The combination with a two for one fiber strand twisting apparatus of the kind having a strand supply package located within a figure of revolution generated by the ballooning fiber strand, of strand attenuating apparatus located wholly withinthe confines of said figure of revolution, and means for supplying power to the attenuating apparatus.

5. In apparatus for drawing and twisting a fiber strand into yarn, the combination'of a set of drawing rolls, meansto feed the strand to the dr w ng rolls there to be drawn, a fiyer positioned to receive the drawn strand from the drawing rolls and rotating in a plane generally normal to the path of movement of the strand through the drawing rolls, a hollow spindle on which the flyer is mounted, means to feed the strand directly from the drawing rolls through the hollow spindle and thence to the flyer, and package forming apparatus having a yarn receiving guide located substantially on a line which is an axial extension of the path of movement of the strand through the drawing rolls.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 in which the hollow spindle is mounted with its longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the path of movement of the strand through the drawing rolls.

7. In apparatus for drawing and subsequently twisting a strand of fiber to form yarn, a strand supply package, a set of drawing rolls to which the strand is delivered from the supply package, a rotatable flyer positioned to receive the drawn strand directly from the drawing rolls and form a figure of revolution about the package and drawing rolls, power means to drive the flyer, means operatively connecting the said power means in driving relation to the drawing rolls, and yarn package building means having a part disposed at the apex of the ballooning yarn which holds the yarn against twisting at that point, said part being located substantially in axial alignment with the path of the yarn passing through the drawing rolls.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 in which the flyer is mounted on a hollow spindle through which the yarn from the drawing rolls passes to said flyer, and in which said spindle is driven, and power take 01f means adjacent the top of the spindle operatively connected to the drawing rolls, whereby the drawing rolls are driven from said spindle.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 in which the supply package is mounted on a member surrounding the spindle, means supporting said member from the spindle and means holding said member and hence the package against rotation.

10. In apparatus for drawing and twisting a strand of fiber to form yarn, a vertically disposed hollow spindle, means mounting the spindle for rotation, a flyer on said spindle disposed to receive a drawn strand passing downwardly through said spindle, a supply package for the strand to be drawn mounted alongside the spindle, a set of drawing rolls located adjacent the upper end of the spindle and mounted whereby the spindle may rotate relative thereto, power take off means operatively connecting the drawing rolls to the rotating spindle whereby the drawing rolls are driven, common means for holding the supply package and the drawing rolls against rotation with the spindle, and yarn package building apparatus located above the drawing apparatus to which the yarn leads from the flyer, whereby the ballooning yarn generates a figure of revolution about the supply package and the drawing rolls.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Clarkson Mar. 13, 1956 

